Whether you’re looking to dive deeper into notorious historical events or are simply driven by morbid curiosity, true crime documentaries about serial killers give a glimpse into the darker parts of human psychology. Many of these documentaries may give you goosebumps as you uncover the depths of a particularly disturbing case, while also confronting the limitations of our social systems. But they can also provide survivors and their families an opportunity to share their stories on their own terms, and create room for further developments to come to light. 

Here you’ll find a mix of stories about some of the worst and most notorious humans to exist, with fresh perspectives, thorough examinations, first-time interviews, and so much more. Though you may find yourself having to watch through your fingers, read on for a guide to serial killer true crime documentaries.

Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story

The Crime: Over the course of two decades, Fred and Rose West carried out some of the most disturbing crimes in Britain’s modern history. The couple kidnapped, raped, tortured, and killed at least 12 people, including two of their own children, and their surviving children described their parents as physically and sexually abusive. 

The Victims: Fred confessed to at least 12 murders. The earliest dated back to 1967 — Ann McFall, a nanny he hired to care for Charmaine, a daughter he had with his first wife Catherine “Rena” Costello. All three were murdered. Police discovered the remains of nine women at the 25 Cromwell Street house: Alison Chambers, Thérèse Siegenthaler, Shirley Hubbard, Lucy Partington, Juanita Mott, Lynda Gough, Carole Ann Cooper, Shirley Robinson, as well as Fred and Rose’s own daughter Heather.

The Verdict: Take some small consolation that Fred and Rose were arrested in 1994, though Fred took his own life before Rose was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1995.

Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story

Limited Series   TV-MA   2025

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Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes

The Crime: Known as one of the most notorious serial killers in US history, Ted Bundy abducted, raped, and murdered more than 30 young women and girls over a period of at least four years. In this documentary, featuring recordings with Bundy from prison, his personal recollections are intermixed with the timeline and sordid details of his crimes. 

The Victims: Though Bundy confessed to 30 murders, many believe he killed hundreds before he was caught. He targeted girls and women between the ages of 12 to 26. A few of his surviving victims, Kathy Kleiner, Karen Chandler, and Cheryl Thomas, were able to testify against him in his trial. 

The Verdict: After two dramatic escapes from prison, Bundy was finally arrested by a police officer in Florida who saw him driving a stolen car. He faced two separate trials in Florida, one of which was among the first nationally televised trials in the country. Bundy would finally pay for his crimes. 

Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes

4 Episodes   TV-MA   2019

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Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer

The Crime: Over the course of many years, the murderer known as the Long Island Serial Killer targeted young women from the New York City area, many of whom worked in the sex industry. Law enforcement began discovering their remains along a stretch of Ocean Parkway in Long Island’s Suffolk County in 2010, but it would take investigators another 13 years to identify a strong suspect. In July 2023, police had finally collected enough evidence in the case to arrest Massapequa Park resident Rex Heuermann.  

The Victims: At least 10 people’s death have been under investigation by the police, and many of the identifiable victims were sex workers, a particularly vulnerable and stigmatized population. Though some of the victims remain unknown, you can read more here about the people who were targeted and murdered. 

The Verdict: As of now, Heuermann has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of second-degree murder in connection with the murders of seven women, to which he has pleaded not guilty. Those women are Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy, Amber Lynn Costello, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Jessica Taylor, Sandra Costilla, and Valerie Mack. 

Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer

3 Episodes   TV-MA   2025

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